Dressmaker&#39;s turntable



DRES SMAKER S TURNTABLE Filed Jan. 25, 1967 INVENTOR. I //V BYLORETTA c.BAKER 38 39 34 2031 30 I9 2| 32 4o w g FIG. 4

A TTOR/VEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 248-349 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE The device of the invention relates to a turntable assemblyadapted for rotatably supporting a person standing thereon for ahem-marking operation. The device includes a circular base member, aload-carrying platform rotatably mounted thereon, and a bearing assemblyinterposed therebetween for rotatably supporting the platform on thebase member.

The turntable assembly of the invention is particularly adapted forrotatably supporting a person standing thereon so that a dress or skirtmay be marked for a subsequent stitching of the hem. During thehem-marking operation, it is important that the markings on the skirt beequally spaced from the floor so that the skirt will hang evenly whenstitched.

Prior to the present invention, a hem-marking operation normallyrequired that a marking device he repeatedly moved to successivepositions around the person wearing the dress or skirt so thatsufficient marks could be made to indicate the desired hemline. Thisoperation is particularly diflicult and awkward for the wearer toperform since she must repeatedly bend down to move the marking deviceand then straighten up so that the hem may be marked at each successiveposition of the marking device. Accordingly, the assistance of anotherperson to move and operate the marking device is frequently required toprovide an even marking for the hemline with a minimum of difficulty forthe wearer.

With the foregoing in mind, it is accordingly a primary object of theinvention to provide a turntable assembly for rotatably supporting aperson standing thereon so that an accurate and even marking may be madeon a dress or skirt worn by the person without requiring that themarking device be moved.

More particularly, it is an object in accordance with the precedingobject to provide a turntable assembly permitting the wearer of thedress to perform a hem-marking operation without requiring theassistance of others.

Another object is to provide a turntable assembly capable of easilysupporting the weight of a person without requiring a constructionutilizing expensive, highstrength materials.

Yet another object is to provide a turntable assembly which is compactand lightweight for easy portability and storage.

Briefly, these and many objects and advantages of the invention areobtained by providing a turntable assembly including a generallycircular base member adapted to be positioned on a supporting surfacesuch as a floor. A generally circular platform is rotatably secured onthe base member for rotatably supporting a person standing thereon. Thebase member and the platform include non-planar, conical surfaces ofrevolution which are spaced from each other in Opposing relation.

The turntable assembly includes a bearing assembly interposed betweenthe conical surfaces of the base member and the platform. The bearingassembly includes a plurality of comically-shaped bearing members whichare sandwiched between and engage the conical surfaces for rotatablysupporting the platform on the base member.

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The bearing members are arranged so as to distribute the applied loadover a substantial radial extent of the base member.

A better understanding of the invention will be had by now referring toa preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the turntable assembly of theinvention and illustrates a person standing thereon for rotation withrespect to a device for marking a hem of a dress;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the turntable assembly ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the turntable assembly in partially assembledform; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken in the directionof the arrows 44 of FIGURE 3.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, there is shown a turntable 10 positioned ona floor 11 for supporting a person standing on the turntable forrotation with respect to a conventional marking device 12. The markingdevice 12 includes a base 13 for supporting a vertically extending scaleor ruler 14 having markings thereon denoting inches and gradationsthereof. The marking device 12 includes a chalk marker 15 slidablymounted on the ruler 14- for ejecting chalk onto the dress at a desiredheight above the fioor as indicated on the ruler. The chalk is ejectedfrom the marker 15 in the usual manner in response to squeezing anelastic bulb 16 connected to the marker 15 by a flexible tube 16.

It will be seen in FIGURE 1 that the turntable 10 is compact and may beconveniently carried and stored in a carrying case shown at 18.

Details of the turntable 10 will be seen more clearly in FIGURE 2,wherein the turntable includes a circular base member 19 having acentral upwardly projecting hub 20. The base member 19 includes anupwardly facing, non-planar, conical surface of revolution 21surrounding the hub 20*. The surface 21 has a radial extent covering amajor portion of the radial extent of the base member 19 as shown.

The turntable 10 further includes a circular platform 22 having acentral opening 23 for mounting on a portion of the hub 20. The platform22 includes a downwardly facing non-planar, conical surface ofrevolution 24 which, as in the case of the above-mentioned surface 21,has a radial extent covering a major portion of the radial extent of theplatform 22 as shown.

The turntable includes a bearing assembly 25 for rotatably supportingthe platform 22 on the base member 19. The bearing assembly 25 includesa plurality of conically-shaped bearing members shown at 26. The bearingassembly further includes a circular plate-like caging member 27 whichhas a central opening 28 for receiving the hub 20. The caging member 27includes a plurality of radially extending, tapered openings 29 forreceiving the bearing members 26 as will be described.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the bearing members 26 are positioned within theopenings 29 and are thus retained in circumferentially spaced, radiallyextending relation with respect to the hub 20.

Further details of the invention are shown in FIGURE 4, wherein it willbe seen that the base member 19 includes a substantially fiat bottomsurface 30 for engaging the floor as shown in FIGURE 1. The base member19 includes a first annular rib 31 between the hub 20 and surface 21 anda second annular rib 32 surrounding the surface 21. The ribs 31 and 32support the caging member 27 in a substantially horizontal position asshown. It will further be seen that the bearing members 26 aresandwiched between and engage the surfaces 21 and 24 in a complementaryengagement.

The hub 20 includes a decreased diameter portion 33 which projectsupwardly to receive the opening 23 of the platform 22. The hub 20further includes the central opening 34 for receiving a shank 35 of aconnecting stud 36. The stud 36 has a head 37 having a diameter greaterthan that of the opening 23 for engaging the platform 22. The basemember 19 is shouldered at 38 for receiving the head of a screw 39threadedly coupled to the shank 35. It will thus be apparent that thestud 36 and screw 39 hold the turntable in assembled relation.

The turntable includes means for automatically locking the platform tothe base member to prevent further rotation therebetween in response torotation of the platfrom through a maximum of 360. With reference toFIG- form hrough a maximum of 360. With reference to FIG- URES 2 and 3,the base member 19 includes an upturned peripheral rim 40 which isspaced from the rib 32 to define an annular groove 41 therebetween. Apair of upwardly extending, tapered surfaces 42 and 43 are formedbetween the rib 32 and rim 40 on opposite sides respectively of anopening 44 defined in the base member 19. A locking pin 45 is mounted onthe platform 22 through an opening 46 defined therethrough and ispositioned to engage the groove 41 of the base member 19. Accordingly,the platform 22 is rotatable on the base member 19 until the pin 45engages either of the tapered surfaces 42 or 43 which lift or cam thepin upwardly, whereupon the .pin drops into the opening 44 to preventfurther rotation.

In operation, and with reference first to FIGURE 1, the turntable isplaced on the floor so that a person may stand thereon as shown. Themarking device 12 is then adjusted to mark the hemline of the wearersdress or skirt at the desired distance above the floor. The locking pin45 is then lifted so that the platform is free to rotate on the basemember. The person may easily rotate the platform by simply pushingagainst an adjacent wall or chair. By gripping the bulb 16, the personmay cause the chalk to be ejected onto the hem of the dress at suitableintervals as the person rotates with respect to the marking device.

With reference to FIGURES 3 and 4, rotation of the platform 22 causesthe bearing members 26 to rotate about their respective radiallyextending axes, which, in turn, may cause the caging member 27 to rotatewith respect to the hub 20. It will be apparent that the imposed load onthe platform 22 is transmitted to the base member 19 through theinterposed bearing members 26 which are arranged to distribute the loadonto a substantial area of the base member. Accordingly, rotation occurswith a minimum of wear, thereby insuring long service without requiringthe use of expensive, high-strength materials. In this regard,completely satisfactory results are obtained by forming the platform,bearing assembly, and base member of molded plastic material.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the turntable assembly ofthe invention provides a convenient means for a person to mark the hemof a dress without requiring the assistance of others. The turntable iscompact, lightweight, and ruggedly constructed to provide long service.

Various changes falling within the scope and spirit of the inventionwill occur to those skilled in the art. The invention is, therefore, notbe thought of as limited to the specific embodiment set forth.

What is claimed is:

1. A clothing marking arrangement for assisting a person to mark at agiven height clothing being worn by the person, the arrangementcomprising:

a base member having av substantially fiat bottom surface for engaging asupporting surface, said base member including an upwardly projectinghub and an upwardly facing conical surface of revolution sur roundingsaid hub;

a platform mounted for rotation about said hub and having a downwardlyfacing conical surface of revolution spaced from said upwardly facingconical surface;

a top surface formed on said platform for supporting a person in astanding position;

bearing means between said base member and said platform, said bearingmeans including a caging member mounted for rotation about said hub andpositioned between said conical surfaces, said caging member having aplurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending openingsdefined therein, said bearing means further including a plurality ofconically shaped roller bearing members positioned in said openings andengaging said conical surfaces for rotatably supporting said platform onsaid base member;

stop means for automatically locking said platform to said base memberto prevent further rotation therebetween in response to rotation of saidplatform through a maximum turn of 360", said stop means including alocking pin extending perpendicularly relative to said platform throughan opening in said platform, an annular groove defined by said basemember for slidably engaging said locking pin as said platform is beingrotated, a pair of tapered surfaces disposed in said annular groove thatmutually intersect at a height above the groove height, and, a retainingopening extending perpendicularly relative to said base member throughthe intersection point of said tapered surf-aces so that when saidplatform is rotated through maximum turn 360 said locking pin will becammed upwardly along one of said tapered surfaces and guided into saidretaining opening to prevent further relative rotation between saidplatform and said base member; and

a marking device for marking clothing worn by the person at a givenheight as the person is being rotated on said platform.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 909,258 1/ 1909 Thies 33-101,040,449 10/ 1912 Snyder 33-10 1,634,922 7/ 1927 Stubblebine et al248-4l8 1,653,296 12/ 1927 Kremenek 108-142 XR 1,754,094 4/ 1930 Glass248-349 XR 1,760,224- 5/1930 Wray.

2,351,293 6/1944 Saunders 248-349 XR 3,046,052 7/1962 Summers 108-139 XRFOREIGN PATENTS 11,029 1898 Great Britain.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 33-10 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 5,455,531 July 15,1969 Loretta C. Baker It is certified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected asshown below:

In the heading to the printed specification, "Loretta C. Baker, SanGabriel, Calif. assignor to Storm Products Co. a corporation ofCalifornia should read Loretta C. Baker, 516

W. Coolidge Dr. San Gabriel, Calif. 91775 Signed and sealed this 29thday of December 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. E. JR.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

